Since my diagnosis I have tried the Lofflex diet/food type avoidance, Prednisolone, Budesonide, Azathioprine (this hospitalised me), Mercaptopurine (this also hospitalised me), and finally Humira (aka Adalimumbab), which finally settled down a relentless, two-year long relapse. Three and a half years on since trying Humira, I am now on a biosimilar, Amgevita, which is far cheaper for the NHS – and so far so good, it has been working out for me.

Adalimumbab is a TNF inhibitor, it is a pharmaceutical drug that I inject every 2 weeks by myself; I will probably be injecting for the rest of my life. The medication suppresses the response to releasing excessive tumor necrosis factors (TNF), which is part of our bodies' inflammatory response. TNF is involved in autoimmune and immune-mediated disorders, such as Crohns-Colitis. As much as I wish I could say to my wonky immune system, “stop hitting yourself!”, it will not relent on its own, so I need medication to help stabilise my insides.

Adalimumab is medication used to treat not only Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, but also rheumatoid arthritis, numerous arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, uveitis, and more. It has so far been the only medication that has successfully been able to reduce my daily pain and enable me to live a regular life, go to work, mute my inner inflammation. I’m not the fittest person in the world (to be honest I never was) and I gain weight easily, especially with foods I can eat that do not cause me internal pain. So, though I cannot run marathons to raise money right now, I can at least shave off my hair!

At my worst flare, I was not able to even raise my hands to wash or brush my hair very well, let alone dye it or go for a trim, due to pain and inflammation all over my body. It will be good to cut my hair after experiencing those frustrating months for such a long time, not only in acknowledgement of surviving those dreadful times (which may happen again), but for me to be able to 'begin' again on a new medication brand.

(While I’m on the subject, I feel it is worth raising awareness that the side effects of Adalimumbab include lymphomas, infections (especially tuberculosis), congestive heart failure, demyelinating disease, a lupus-like syndrome, induction of auto-antibodies, injection site reactions, and a whole page worth of systemic side effects listed in the medications that are as big as a broadsheet newspaper. It is, in some ways, a wonder drug... but in reality these issues are always on my mind. It is risky trying to live a reduced-pain life! I go to the clinic for many check-ins, blood tests etc to see that these issues are not present.)

Crohns-Colitis UK are able to raise awareness, support, provide advice and research into people suffering IBD as well as their families, friends and caregivers, so I would love to be able to give them some funding.

Also! Not only am I able to raise funds for Crohns-Colitis UK with your help, the hair I am chopping will also go to Little Princess Trust. This team make wigs made of donations of hair, providing real hair wigs to children and young people with hair loss.

Thank you for reading and for your donations. The big shave is Saturday 21st September 2019. I will update soon! Thanks so much!

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